A Dublin man who stabbed his ex-girlfriend to death and seriously injured her mother was convicted of murder and serious assault and jailed for life by a judge in the Central Criminal Court yesterday.
After a majority jury verdict, High Court judge Mr Justice White said he personally regretted that his hands were tied on the issue of sentencing and that he had no choice but to deliver a life sentence. He "advised or directed " that the convicted man, Declan Burke, receive whatever psychiatric help was needed in whatever institution was appropriate.
Declan Burke (29), with a last address on the South Circular Road, Dublin 8, accepted he was responsible for the stabbing his former partner Ms Jennifer Wilkinson (24), at her home in the Rise, Boden Park, Ballyboden, Dublin on December 13th 2000, and causing serious harm to her mother, Mrs Mary Wilkinson, (57), also through stabbing her, but he had pleaded not guilty to two charges of murder and assault causing serious harm.
His defence claimed insanity and/or that he lacked the intention to kill or seriously injure. He also claimed he had no memory of the moments during which the stabbings occurred.